Re: Sculpting a victory: A Pygmalion Slogan for the Australian Open! F v Murray

Quote:

Originally Posted by NID

exactly.
it is bloody hard to be top 10 in knitting or collecting handkerchiefs, let alone in any sport with a global following.
i reckon most of the haters have never trained any sport competitively, let alone picked up a racquet.
and honestly, tennis players behave much better than athletes in other sports. even federer, although i am sure you will not readily accept it.

Re: Sculpting a victory: A Pygmalion Slogan for the Australian Open! F v Murray

Quote:

Originally Posted by NID

also, unlike his 2011 points, his 2012 points are distributed relatively evenly, so he should stay no1 for quite some time, unless muzza or fed go on rampage.

Yeah -- Fed has more points to defend in March and April than Djoko, I think. Seems that way.

Is Djoko skipping Madrid for sure? Crap tournament. I hope he does. It's particularly crap because the surface is so much different than RG. I remember when the women had Madrid right before RG instead of the ATP. The winner usually did not do well at RG.

Then also there is Nadal coming back into the mix. I don't expect much from tbh. It's very difficult to come back full strength after being out so long.

Re: Sculpting a victory: A Pygmalion Slogan for the Australian Open! F v Murray

I think the BBC guys dwell a bit on the hyperbole -it wasn't really that great a match- but nail their assessment of both players. Enjoyable read.

Quote:

Andy Murray v Novak Djokovic: Australian Open final analysis

Andy Murray's hopes of winning a second Grand Slam title were ended in Melbourne by an impressive display from Novak Djokovic.

Tom Fordyce on the final
"In taking on three of the finest players in history and not just matching them but vanquishing them, repeatedly, Murray faces one of the great challenges in British sport."

Chief sports writer on Murray's defeat

The Briton won the first set, but the world number one prevailed to become the first man in 46 years to win the Australian Open for three years running.
With Murray needing treatment for blisters, the Serb was the stronger man over three hours and 40 minutes and won 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-2 to collect his fourth title in Melbourne and sixth Grand Slam in all.
BBC Sport's tennis experts give their verdicts on Murray's performance and asses how the three-time Australian Open finalist can improve his game.

Boris Becker - six-time Grand Slam champion

The better man won the match. Once Djokovic won that second set he just started to find another level and Djokovic was the aggressor, he took more risks and more chances.
That's the lesson we've learnt today is that there's another level with Djokovic. He raised his level to the occasion and kept on playing better and better.
Murray has to think: how can I stop this? How can I improve? He has already improved so much over the last 18 months. He's fit enough, just tactically [he needs to change] a few things. It's not much.
It is decided by details. Yes, he's got better, but so has Djokovic. In the fourth set, Murray wasn't as fast anymore but tennis-wise Djokovic just outplayed him and that's the reason he lost.

John Lloyd - former Australian Open finalist

It was an absolutely outstanding match. Some of the gets Djokovic made - balls were coming back from ridiculous positions. He really just went up a gear and suddenly started accelerating and Murray could not keep up with him.
It looked, to me, that Djokovic could play for another five hours. Djokovic is just magnificent, absolutely magnificent.
Murray seemed to be struggling towards the end. I'm sure the feet were sore, but that's no excuse.
[Roger] Federer moved the bar, [Rafael] Nadal came in and now Djokovic has really raised the bar.
For Murray, it's the small things. He's going to have to take the ball earlier and go for more winners because that's what Djokovic did in the third and fourth sets.

Pat Cash - former Wimbledon champion

Once Djokovic gets into his rhythm he is almost impossible to stop and unfortunately for Murray he did get into his rhythm at the end of the second set.
Djokovic played a good tie-breaker, settled in and didn't make any mistakes. It just goes to show how tough it is to back up a five-set win against one of the top four with another.
Murray is probably the second best player in the world at the moment, improving all the time and there's not a lot coming up the back to frighten him.
I still think Murray can get to number one in the world and win more Grand Slams. He's going to be up there and I think he'll win Wimbledon
The Brits did really well, Laura Robson's effort was fantastic and to beat [Petra] Kvitova showed real maturity. She'll be a top 10 player and who knows further than that. It was a very exciting tournament the whole way.

Jeremy Bates - Former British number one

For two sets it was exceptional tennis, but Djokovic really showed why he is number one: his sustained ability to come up and deliver time and again at the highest level. Murray gave it is all. It was a terrific contest, as it is every time these two step on a court.
We have a great champion in Andy Murray. You sense he belongs in there and he's disappointed but exudes confidence he will get that trophy. It was a terrific event all round.

Re: Sculpting a victory: A Pygmalion Slogan for the Australian Open! F v Murray

Quote:

Originally Posted by star

Was a crap tournament even before it was blue

Well the surface plays differently than RG and that sucks. I know that. But for fans, it's a very friendly tournament. You know I only have one other to compare t too, and Madrid organization and infrastructures >>> Paris.

Re: Sculpting a victory: A Pygmalion Slogan for the Australian Open! F v Murray

Quote:

Originally Posted by arm

Well the surface plays differently than RG and that sucks. I know that. But for fans, it's a very friendly tournament. You know I only have one other to compare t too, and Madrid organization and infrastructures >>> Paris.

I like it only for you.

Can't wait until you are out of school and can start taking in RG and Wimby.